Iola Star Power

Big cars, big stars and big displays are guaranteed to make the 36th annual Iola Old Car Show, held July 10-13 in Iola, Wis., one of the best yet.

This year’s event features “roadsters, ragtops and rumble seats” under the theme tent, guaranteeing a wide selection of prewar and postwar “drop tops” for any taste. Along with these open-top stars, a number of other special displays will add to the variety the Iola Old Car Show is known for.

Among the most anticipated displays is the special section of pre-1936 cars used in the recent filming of the “Public Enemies” movie. In this display, watch for such screen stars as a 1933 Nash sedan, 1935 Plymouth coupe and Model A truck.

Other stars expected at the Iola Old Car Show include Greg Evigan, who starred in the TV show “BJ and the Bear,” along with the 1980 Kenworth K100 used in that NBC show. The 1980 Kenworth will appear at the show alongside the 1974 Kenworth W925 used on the NBC TV show “Movin’ On.”

Famous dream car collector Joe Bortz will also be at the Iola Old Car Show with his one-of-a-kind 1954 Dodge Firearrow coupe dream car. Famous driver Betty Skelton set a new women’s closed-course record with the Firearrow coupe at Chrysler’s proving grounds when it was new.

Additionally, the Iola Old Car Show’s famous Blue Ribbon display, a showcase of fine unrestored and concours-quality restored vehicles, will welcome guests to one of the world’s finest automotive events.

If you find that you are feeling a little tired and worn out after walking the grounds looking at the cars and searching for great deals among the swap meet vendors, then be sure to stop by the Old Cars Weekly Radio Tent near the food barn where each afternoon the Old Cars Weekly staff will be interviewing industry leaders and collectors for upcoming episodes of ThisOldCarRadio.com. There will be plenty of shaded seating available for your enjoyment.

While all of these fine cars make Iola one of the most-visited automotive events in the world, it’s the swap meet and its 4,400-plus filled spaces that brings many parts hunters to the 300-acre show grounds. In addition, the Iola Old Car Show’s 1,000-space corral becomes a trading grounds for car buyers and sellers.

For those who are buying, selling or just plain looking, Iola has it all.

However, if you aren’t able to make it to Iola this year, then be sure to catch all the action on our four "Live" streaming video web cams. All you have to to is go to the Old Cars Weekly Car Show Cam Page and click on the camera links found along the left-hand side of the screen. After checking out the action, head on over to the Old Cars Weekly Community site and share your thoughts with other enthusiasts in our online forums.

And last, but certainly not least, be sure to enter for your chance to win our Ultimate Garage Giveaway. You can enter each and every day until July 31, when one luck winner will receive the entire prize package including a collector car.

And don’t forget, if you cars and parts don’t sell this weekend in Iola, you can always sell them in th an Old Cars Weekly Online Marketplace classified ads! There are many great packages available online and in print. CLICK HERE to start selling and buying.